Description
Somen noodles recipe—three simple words, yet they carry centuries of Japanese culinary tradition and the cool comfort of summer on a plate. For me, Olivia, a lifelong noodle devotee, this dish brings back memories not from Rome or Tokyo ramen bars, but from a breezy Kyoto veranda, where I first tasted chilled somen gliding through icy bamboo flumes.
Ingredients
For the Noodles:
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- Somen noodles – 200g (or about 7 oz); thin Japanese wheat noodles
(Tip: Check the Asian section of your grocery store or local Japanese market.)
- Somen noodles – 200g (or about 7 oz); thin Japanese wheat noodles
For the Dipping Sauce (Mentsuyu):
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- Soy sauce – ½ cup
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- Mirin – ¼ cup
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- Dashi stock – 1 cup (can use instant dashi powder or homemade)
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- Sugar – 1 tsp (optional, for a touch of sweetness)
For the Toppings (Optional but Recommended):
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- Green onions, thinly sliced
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- Grated ginger
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- Shredded nori (seaweed)
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- Sesame seeds
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- Myoga or shiso leaves (if available)
Want to experiment? Try adding:
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- Chopped cucumber
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- Cold poached egg
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- Lightly steamed okra or eggplant
Ingredients the Dipping Sauce (Mentsuyu)
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- ½ cup soy sauce
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- ¼ cup mirin
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- 1 cup dashi stock (use instant dashi granules or homemade)
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- 1 tsp sugar (optional, for balance)
Instructions
1-Boil water in a large pot—no salt needed.
2-Add somen noodles and stir gently to separate.
(They cook fast—about 2 to 3 minutes! Stay close.)
3-Taste test for doneness. Noodles should be tender but not mushy.
4-Drain immediately and transfer to a bowl of ice water.
5-Rinse thoroughly under cold running water, rubbing the noodles lightly with your hands.
(This removes surface starch and prevents clumping.)
6-Drain well and serve over ice or on a chilled plate.
sauce Instructions:
1-Combine soy sauce, mirin, and dashi in a small saucepan.
2-Add sugar if using, and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
3-Simmer for 3–5 minutes, then remove from heat.
4-Let it cool, then chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boil, Chill
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1,150mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: somen noodles, cold Japanese noodles, mentsuyu sauce, summer noodle recipe, Japanese dipping noodles, chilled noodles